A surgical handbook : for the use of students, practitioners, house-surgeons, and dressers / by Francis M. Caird and Charles W. Cathcart.

Caird, Francis Mitchell, 1853-1926

Date:: 1889

Credit: A surgical handbook : for the use of students, practitioners, house-surgeons, and dressers / by Francis M. Caird and Charles W. Cathcart. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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$I>hici: tlu; smallc-i- ont-, whicli must Iiave previously hrni hciiled liy iillowing boiling-water to stand in it for a niiiiuti- 01 two. I'ul the linseed meal recjuired into the smaller basin, |)inii- in boiling-water gradually, and beat with the spatula into a thick past<'. Now take one of the heated plates, lay out on it tlie lini:n in which the poultice is to lie placed, and sprc^ad ovei- it quickly with llie spatula thit mixtuie from the basin. Dip the spatula into the largei' basin ol boiling water, otherwise thi- mixture will slick to it, and not spread freely on the linen. The ]30ultice should be about >^-inch thick all over, and a margin of about 1J4 inch should be left all round the linen to turn up over the edge of the poultice. If tile poultice has to be cairied some distance to the |)alient, it should be placed between two heated plates. The poultice should be gently applied, and, in the event of there being nnich discharge from the womid, it will be found an advantage to lay some absorbent cotton wool roimd it; over the ]joullice a piece of waterproof matei ial ; and then cotton wool or flannel should be placed to prevent evaporation antl tcj retain the heal bettei'. 'ITie |)oultice should be fixed in its place by a bandage or handkerchief. l'oulliet;s should be applietl as hot as the patient can be.ir ihem, without any material between the sore and the mixtui'e, otherwise their value is diminished. Th(jy should be changi'd at li'ast every three horns. It is hardly necessary to ;id(l thai the p(jultiec should at once be burned after removal. (2) Oiitiiical /\ut//iccs are made in the same way as linseed, but some, authorities reeonuucnd that the meal should be pieviously boiled. (3) Slairli Poiilliccs,—The starch should be first made into a stiff paste with cold water, and then mixed with boiling water to make it hot before being ajiplied. (4) Urcad J'oiiUircs. — Boil some stale Ijreafl with water for five minutes. Drain off the water, and spread the bread on a piece of linen. A few drops of warm oil should be placed on the poultice, and so prevent it from sticking to the patient. (s) Hran I'oiilliccs an' made by pouring boiling water on to the re- (|uired (|uanlity of bran, and stirring well. An/iscp/ic /'nraii/io/is.—To any of the above poultices Ihei e may be added powdered charcoal, powdered Ijoracic acid, or iodoform, to diminish foitor and fermenlalion. The material should also he freely dusted over the surface of the sore, laefore the poultice is applied. (6) Muslard Puullir.e.—When mustard leaves are not available, a mustard poultici, can be made either by spreading nuistard, prepared as if for use al table, on linen, or by simply shaking dry nuistard over a linseed poultice, and then applying it to ihe patient. How to Cleanse and Purify Sponges.—Sponges, when new, are to l)e repeatedly washed out of hot water, dried, and beaten until the sand is shaken out. Some recommend that they should, then Ije steeped in an 8 per cent, solution of hydrochloric acid, until all calcareous particles are dissolved. They are then to be stored in i 20 carbolic acid, and kept ready for use. After having been used at Operations for some time.—(i) Free them from grease by sleeping in a concentrated solution of washing soda. (2) Then soak for Iwenly-four hours in permanganate of potash i gr. to I 07.., and wash again in clean water. (3) Soak in i per cent, solution of commercial salt of sub-sulphite of$